China urges US to remove newly imposed tariffs

China has called on the United States to remove the newly imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium, following the introduction of a 25% duty on all imports of these metals, which took effect on March 12.

Speaking at a briefing on March 13, He Yungqian, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce, said that the new tariffs, which affect not only raw steel and aluminum but also a wide range of products, including refrigerators, stoves, phones, and automobiles, represent a significant escalation in trade tensions, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The expanded list of goods subject to tariffs has raised concerns across global markets, as these restrictions affect a broad spectrum of industries.

The new tariff policy does not make exceptions for individual countries, heightening the impact on international trade. Additionally, the US had proposed raising tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to a near-prohibitive 50%, but this plan has been postponed, according to White House trade advisor Peter Navarro.

He Yungqian condemned the US measures, stating that they are "unilateral and protectionist actions" carried out under the guise of national security concerns. "China, like many other countries, firmly opposes these measures and urges the US to lift the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum as soon as possible," she added.

The tariffs have drawn sharp criticism from various countries, with China leading the charge in calling for a swift rollback of these policies. Experts warn that the continued imposition of these tariffs could further disrupt global supply chains and strain international trade relations.

For the record, Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 allows the US to impose tariffs on imported goods that it believes threaten national security. However, critics argue that this provision has been used to justify protectionist policies, rather than addressing genuine security concerns.

By Khagan Isayev